Baby it's cold outside

One of those mornings where I'm thinking..."Why am I doing this?  I don't have to do this, I could stop if I wanted to.  But dammit I've been posting it on the blog so I'm committed."

Cold enough to wear gloves and my fingers were still freezing.  Wore a scarf to keep my neck and chest warm, by the last quarter mile I'm ripping that scarf away, while my fingers are still freezing.

Mile #16 done in 10:57, still under 11 minutes, 35 to go hmmmmm....wouldn't it be nice to be 35 again?  With all the knowledge that I have now.....

Running and Chatting

So easy to run with friends.

Mile #15 done, 36 to go

10:34 Gangstas!!!

Yep, this morning's mile done in 10:34, only 2 seconds shy of my best time last year.

14 down 37 to go.

I'm gonna say it again.....

What a difference a year makes.

Last year I ran the Brea 8K and battled my attitude the entire race.  This year I ran it and attitude was not a problem.  I think I have the "Gratitude Journal" to thank for this.  January 1st I started "A Year of Gratitude".  I write about something that I'm thankful for.  Usually it's simple things, like the sun warming me on a cold morning, how the dogs will do something cute and it makes me smile, or how I see fire in the sky during a sunset.

In the beginning I would write about the thing I was thankful for, but also wanted to write about the stuff that bugged me that day too.  But I couldn't write about what bothered me.  It's a Gratitude journal and I have to keep it pristine and only write about things I'm thankful for.   When I decided to do the journal, I didn't realize it was going to affect how I view things through out the day.  Because I know I can't write about the stuff that bugs me, I don't really allow myself to focus on the the annoying stuff.  Instead I find myself throughout the day looking for the stuff that I am thankful for.

And now to mile #13.  I think I'll count the last mile of the 8K as my mile for the day.  Thought seriously about counting the first mile, cause I totally rocked it.  But the last mile, that was the one I enjoyed the most.  I ran with Tamara, she was struggling for a few miles.  She's suffering from tendonites in her ankles and that's affecting her knees, hips, ect. (sing it "the foot bones connected to the shin bone").  We started doing some easy intervals on the Kramer downhill, and were able to keep with the intervals to the finish.

Was a good race.  We didn't break any records, but had a good run, and some good food afterwards.

Oh, and thing #31, ran a race with Tamara :)

Whoo Hooo!

Broke the 11 minute mile!

And I only had to battle my mind about 30% of it....imagine what I could do if there was no battle.

Mile #12 done in 10:49......... 39 to go.

Guess I can't count

Somehow I screwed up whilst counting, and skipped a mile.

This morning I completed mile #11.  Wasn't quite the mental battle today as the last couple of days. 

This morning I chose not to listen to those whiney defeating thoughts.

40 miles to go.

And the battle wages on

From the moment I wake up till I'm half way done with the mile my mind is fighting me.

I think this will get better, I just have to show it who's boss.

Mile #9 done, 42 to go.

Left Brain / Right Brain?

My mind gets in the way.  I know I'm going to do the run first thing in the morning, but the mind tries to talk me out of it, making excuses, and trying to trick me by saying "Ah, you don't have to do it first thing....we'll do it later, after work". 

Sometimes it can really be a mental battle.

Mile 8 done first thing this morning, 43 to go.

7 Down 44 to go

Group run tonight. Always easy to do the mile with friends.

Stop thinking and do it!

Mile #6 was easier than I thought it would be.  I swear sometimes I spend more time thinking about it than the actual running of it.  I was worried since it's the day after the Pasadena Half.  But no problem, I took it easy and completed it quicker than I thought I would.

6 down, 45 to go.

#28

Someone reminded me this week that I've been slacking on the 51 new things.....

So....thing #28, ran around "The Rose Bowl", specifically ran around The Rose Bowl as part of the inaugural Pasadena Rock and Roll half marathon.

Two halfs in one month!

 I rock.

Can't believe I had the guts to do it.

No guts no glory.

Most inspiring sight on the course, there were several things I made a mental note, and only one of which I can remember.  A t-shirt saying something like "I'm stronger today than I was yesterday", I can so relate.

Funniest thing on the course, there was this guy dressed up like a court jester running up and down the route ringing a bell shouting "you are almost there"....this started at mile 3, I turned to the girl beside me and said "I can't stand it when people say that", to which she replied, "That guy ran 50 miles yesterday".  Ha, well, I guess in his perspective....

Saw him again at like mile 6 or 7, ringing that damn bell running and shouting "you are almost there".   I heard someone say "wow, that guy gets around", and someone else say, "that guy ran 100 miles yesterday".

Saw him one more time at the 13 mile marker, he was holding a sign that had the 13 crossed off leaving the .1 and the word "left".  He was a pretty good cheer leader.

Grossest thing on the course....why is it old men have to spit when they run....and why is it they can't manage to make their way to the right or the left to do it?

I really liked this course.  The weather was perfect, the event is well organized, the bands were great, and because of the switch backs I would see running buddies coming and going, they'd shout "Cindy!"......  ;)  the people running around me thought I was very popular.

I think I'll count the first mile of the race as my mile for the day.

And this mile a day thing really helped get me to the finish line.  It gets a little difficult at about mile 11, I kept thinking, you've got this.....just 2 daily miles.   Luckily the finish is a gradual down hill.  I feel like I finished strong.

5 miles down, 46 to go.

What the heck....thing #29, saw "Sugar Ray" perform live at the finish.

Ah, and thing #30 ate a burger at "Five Guys"......you can eat a burger guiltless after you run 13.1 miles.

Rock On!

Sometimes you have to make yourself do it.

And once you get started, it's easy to finish. Well and the fact that the finish is down hill kinda helps too.

Mile 5 down, 46 to go

What a Difference a Year Makes

The mile is so much easier this year than it was a year ago.

I only took one walk break this morning.  My time today was 11:04, shoot if I would have just cut that walk break 5 seconds short I would have been under 11 minute mile.

Last year my goal was to get my time under 11.  I managed to do that the final 50th mile.  With the help of my friends running behind me and encouraging me we did it in 10:32.

This year I think I'll be able to do it on my own, and sooner than the 50th mile.

My goal this year will be to run the mile without a walk break, and to do it in under 11 minutes.

Mile #4 down, 47 to go.

Easy Breezy

Mile #3, easy.

So easy to do the mile when running with friends.

3 down 48 to go.

No Guts No Glory

Ok, I'm in.

This morning I woke up before the alarm, something I haven't done in a long long time.  Debated if I should get up and do the mile, or just pass on it.  Made the mistake of rolling over and touching the dimmer on the clock.  I keep the clock dark, I like it totally black when I sleep, not even a crack in the blinds here.

When I stirred it woke up Sammy.  Once she's up there's no going back to sleep.  She does this thing where she buries her face in the covers, but disturbs you at the same time.  If that doesn't work, she will jump off the bed and scratch at the door.  When that doesn't work she jumps back on the bed and pounces on me. 

So I figured it was a sign.  I'm supposed to do the miles. 

Wasn't too bad.  A little cold, but invigorating too.  

So the count is on.  2 miles down, 49 to go.

On a side note.....As we were leaving work today I noticed it was still raining, and the sun was out.  Bet there's a rainbow somewhere.  When we walked out the doors there it was right in front of us, stretched across the sky from one end to the other.  Wish I would have thought to take a picture of it then. 

On the way home I pulled out my phone and started snapping shots.

You've heard of "Storm Chasers"?  I was a Rainbow Chaser this evening.

Started singing "It never rains in southern, California....."

Somewhere over the rainbow.........

Was a comple arch from left to right....was so big I couldn't get the whole thing in one shot.

And here is Sammy, all snuggled up for the night.



Should I or shouldn't I?

Wondering if I should start a 51 mile journey........

Today would be the first day......and I did run with the group this evening.......

Kind of loses it's zest if I'm not totally committed to doing it.....